<p>Human-induced deforestation may be causing an increase in malaria cases, according to a new study of 67 less-developed, malaria-endemic countries.<br /><br />Nearly 130 million hectares of forest - an area almost equivalent in size to South Africa - have been lost since 1990, according to a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (UN).<br /><br />Deforestation is not a natural phenomenon, but rather results predominantly from human activities, or <br />anthropogenically, researchers said.<br /><br />Researchers from Lehigh University in the US found that deforestation can impact malaria prevalence by several mechanisms, including increasing the amount of sunlight and standing water in some areas.<br /><br />In general, increasing standing water and sunlight is favourable for most species of Anopheles mosquitoes which are the key vector of malaria transmission, researchers said.</p>.<p>"Human-induced changes to the natural environment can have a powerful impact on malaria rates," said Kelly Austin from Lehigh University. Researchers build upon evidence that patterns in climate change, deforestation, and other human-induced changes to the natural environment are amplifying malaria transmission.<br /><br />They used an analytic research strategy that allowed them to look at the causes of deforestation, in order to have a broader focus on the upstream or human-induced causes of land-use change that impact malaria vulnerabilities.<br /><br />Results suggested that rural population growth and specialisation in agriculture are two key influences on forest loss in developing nations.<br /><br />Deforestation from agriculture comes in part from food that is exported to more-developed countries, researchers said.<br /><br />"In this way, consumption habits in countries like the US can be linked to malaria rates in developing nations," Austin said.<br /><br />The study was published in the journal AIMS Environmental Science. </p>
<p>Human-induced deforestation may be causing an increase in malaria cases, according to a new study of 67 less-developed, malaria-endemic countries.<br /><br />Nearly 130 million hectares of forest - an area almost equivalent in size to South Africa - have been lost since 1990, according to a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (UN).<br /><br />Deforestation is not a natural phenomenon, but rather results predominantly from human activities, or <br />anthropogenically, researchers said.<br /><br />Researchers from Lehigh University in the US found that deforestation can impact malaria prevalence by several mechanisms, including increasing the amount of sunlight and standing water in some areas.<br /><br />In general, increasing standing water and sunlight is favourable for most species of Anopheles mosquitoes which are the key vector of malaria transmission, researchers said.</p>.<p>"Human-induced changes to the natural environment can have a powerful impact on malaria rates," said Kelly Austin from Lehigh University. Researchers build upon evidence that patterns in climate change, deforestation, and other human-induced changes to the natural environment are amplifying malaria transmission.<br /><br />They used an analytic research strategy that allowed them to look at the causes of deforestation, in order to have a broader focus on the upstream or human-induced causes of land-use change that impact malaria vulnerabilities.<br /><br />Results suggested that rural population growth and specialisation in agriculture are two key influences on forest loss in developing nations.<br /><br />Deforestation from agriculture comes in part from food that is exported to more-developed countries, researchers said.<br /><br />"In this way, consumption habits in countries like the US can be linked to malaria rates in developing nations," Austin said.<br /><br />The study was published in the journal AIMS Environmental Science. </p>